A contemporary exploration of the wide-ranging debates surrounding the relationships between business and society in 21st century Ireland that provides the context in which to question and inform our perspectives on both.

Provides extensive, diverse and thought-provoking contributions from leading business researchers, economists, sociologists and political scientists from Ireland and abroad, which address five central themes:

The Making and Unmaking of the Celtic Tiger

Governance, Regulation & Justice

Partnership & Participation

Whither Irish Borders – Ireland, Europe and the Wider World?

Interests & Concerns in Contemporary Ireland

Takes a critical look at Ireland as one of the most open and globally integrated economies in the world, with the activities of Irish and Irish-based foreign business impacting on both national and international societies and businesses

Discusses the relationships between business and society within the context of the wider Irish, as well as European, political economy

Presents the Irish economic decisions and conditions that precipitated our current recession and the resultant lessons to be learned, which reinforce the importance of understanding business and society in context

Examines the state of Irish business and society today and contemplates on how it might develop into the future.

SUITABLE FOR:

Business or Political Science students at third level

Also students of Sociology and Economics at third level

Postgraduates and scholars with an interest in contemporary Ireland

Anyone with an interest in Irish business and society

'Succeeds in drawing an excellent, multi-dimensional perspective on Ireland from some of our most perceptive academic commentators as we seek to address the role of business in our society in the 21st Century. It comprehensively addresses the various themes relevant to Irish business and society in one coherent volume and should be required reading for all citizens seeking to improve their understanding of modern Ireland. Its economic and social analysis of the ‘Celtic Tiger’ is particularly insightful, reminding me of George Santayana’s quote: ‘Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it’. This book successfully holds that mirror up to our societal structures and institutions in a way that should enable us to learn and develop as a society.'Jim Barry, Chief Executive, NTR plc; member of Council of Patrons, Special Olympics Ireland; board member, The Ireland Funds.

'Irish Business and Society presents the best of Irish social science, neatly packaged around themes of governance, participation, and transformation. Many of these original chapters are brilliantly crafted, and while they show an Ireland slipping off a time of rapid growth, themes of hope abound in enterprise, social and economic partnership, civil society, social inclusion, and Europeanization. Read it through for a clear view of what makes today’s Ireland click, and sometimes sputter.'Jon Van Til, Professor Emeritus of Urban Studies and Public Policy, Rutgers University, New Jersey, USA

'This very stimulating book of essays brought me right back to this quote from Tom Stoppard’s Arcadia: ‘It makes me so happy. To be at the beginning again, knowing almost nothing. It’s the best possible time to be alive, when almost everything you thought you knew is wrong’. There is a real sense from these essays that, once again, Ireland is at a turning point, in business, society and public governance.'Peter Cassells, Chairman, National Centre for Partnership and Performance; Chairman, DHR Communications; former General Secretary, Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU)

THE EDITORSJohn Hogan PhD is a lecturer in Irish politics and international political economy in the Dublin Institute of Technology. His research interests focus on developing frameworks for identifying and understanding policy change, and studying the global regulation of the lobbying industry. He is a founding member of the DIT research group focused on researching intersections of business and society. He has published in a wide range of journals including Acta Politica, Canadian Journal of Political Science, The Political Quarterly, Irish Political Studies, and the Asian Journal of Latin American Studies. Along with Dr. Raj Chari and Professor Gary Murphy, he recently co-wrote Regulating Lobbying: A Global Comparison (MUP, 2010).

Paul F. Donnelly BA(TCD), MBA(TCD), PhD(UMass), GradDip MM(DIT), DipPR(PRII), CDipAF(ACCA) teaches strategy, business ethics, negotiation, organisation behaviour and theory, and global marketplace in Dublin Institute of Technology.His research interests cover organisation studies, international business, management education, critical management studies and research methodology. He is a founding member of the DIT research group focused on researching intersections of business and society. He co-edited (with John Hogan and Paddy Dolan) the volume Approaches to Qualitative Research (Oak Tree Press, 2009). A Fulbrighter, he is Vice President (2009-11) and President-elect (2011-13) of the Irish Fulbright Alumni Association.

Brendan K. O’Rourke PhD works at the Dublin Institute of Technology, where he focuses on learning in the area of discourses of the economy. His academic publications include articles on interview methodology, owner-managed firms and on the nature of economics expertise. Brendan is the co-founder of the Discourse Analysis Group (DAG) within DIT. DAG is a specialist group of academics who have published extensively in the area of discourse analysis. He is also a founding member of the DIT research group focused on researching intersections of business and society.